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31 Jan 2017

Corrupt ex-council officer must pay over £30,000

A former council senior officer has been fined more than £30,000 after facing charges of housing fraud.

She was one of two sisters found guilty of unlawfully subletting their social housing properties.

Kathryn Adedeji and her sister, Blessing, of Greenwich and Tower Hamlets, were found guilty following a trial at The Old Bailey.

Kathryn, who was previously employed by Thurrock Council, and Blessing were both accused and found guilty of unlawful subletting, contrary to the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013. Kathryn Adedeji had sublet her social housing property over 22 months between March 2014 and December 2015 to her sister Blessing, who in turn had sublet her own social housing to other tenants.

Thurrock Council’s specialist Counter Fraud & Investigation Service initiated and led the investigation following a whistle blowing in July 2015.

Kathryn will have to pay a penalty fine of £10,000 and has 28 days to pay this and also prosecution charges of £23,000 and has six months to pay this.

The charges, which were brought under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013, follow an investigation by the council’s fraud team.

She was suspended by the council in December 2015 as part of the internal investigation.